CTAB-crafted ZnO nanostructures for environmental remediation and pathogen control.

This study addresses the critical need for efficient and sustainable methods to tackle organic pollutants and microbial contamination in water. The present work aim was to investigate the potential of multi-structured zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) for the combined photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and antimicrobial activity. A unique fusion of precipitation-cum-hydrothermal approaches was precisely employed to synthesize the ZnO NPs, resulting in remarkable outcomes. The synthesized CTAB/ZnO NPs demonstrated exceptional properties: they were multi-structured and crystalline with a size of 40 nm and possessed a narrow band gap energy of 2.82 eV, enhancing light absorption for photocatalysis. These nanoparticles achieved an impressive degradation efficiency of 91.75% for Reactive Blue-81 dye within 105 min under UV irradiation. Furthermore, their photocatalytic performance metrics were outstanding, including a quantum yield of 1.73 × 10-4 Φ, a kinetic reaction rate of 3.89 × 102 µmol g-1 h-1, a space-time yield of 8.64 × 10-6 molecules photon-1 mg-1, and a figure-of-merit of 1.03 × 10-9 mol L J-1 g-1 h-1. Notably, the energy consumption was low at 1.73 × 10-4 J mol-1, compared to other systems. Additionally, the ZnO NPs exhibited effective antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. This research underscores the potential of tailored ZnO NPs as a versatile solution for addressing both organic pollution and microbial contamination in water treatment processes. The low energy consumption further enhances its attractiveness as a sustainable solution.

Enhancing the Antimicrobial Properties of Experimental Resin-Based Dental Composites through the Addition of Quaternary Ammonium Salts.

Secondary caries is one of the main reasons for dental filling replacement. There is a need to obtain dental restorative material that is able to act against caries-inducing microorganisms. This study explores the antimicrobial properties of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DODAB)-modified photo-cured experimental dental composites against Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans was assessed by using an Accuri C6 flow cytofluorimeter, and then analyzed using BD CSampler software (1.0.264). Bacterial/yeast surface colonization was carried out by using an GX71 inverted-optics fluorescence microscope equipped with a DP 73 digital camera. For bactericidal surface analysis of each sample type, simultaneous standardization was performed using a positive control (live cells) and a negative control (dead cells). A positive correlation between the increasing concentration of CTAB or DODAB and the dead cell ratio of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans was revealed. In particular, CTAB at a 2.0 wt% concentration exhibits superior efficiency against pathogens (65.0% dead cells of Escherichia coli, 73.9% dead cells of Streptococcus mutans, and 23.9% dead cells of Candida albicans after 60 min). However, Candida albicans is more resistant to used salts than bacteria. A CTAB- or DODAB-modified experimental dental composite exhibits antimicrobial potential against Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans after 10 and 60 min of incubation, and the antimicrobial efficiency increases with the wt% of QAS in the tested material.

Preparation of Fe/Co bimetallic oxide loaded hydrophobic & catalytic bifunctional membrane and its catalytic performance in sulfite oxidation.

Sulfite oxidation is critical for the stable operation of desulfurization process and the treatment & recovery of desulfurization by-products. The Fe and Co oxides modified super hydrophobic layer was prepared on tubular ceramic membranes using hydrothermal synthesis and surface modifications to realize the combination of the membrane catalysis and membrane aeration. These two oxides were approximately two-layer distributed on the membrane surface, among which the Fe2O3 located in the bottom layer and the Co3O4 located in the upper layer. The catalytic rate of the bifunctional membrane was about 5.8 times than that of the original ceramic membrane, which was decreased with the increasing of Fe/Co ratio and declined after an initial rise with the increase of urea and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The conjoint effect of Fe and Co could improve the catalytic performance and reduce the dissolution loss of catalyzer. The oxidation rate tended to be constant after a 15 % decrease in 7 times experiments.

Mycotoxigenic Fusarium species and zearalenone concentration in commercial maize kernels in northern Ghana.

The fungal genus Fusarium contains many toxigenic pathogens of maize with associated yield losses, reduction of grain quality, and accumulation of mycotoxins in harvested grains. To determine zearalenone (ZEN) concentration and identify the various Fusarium species in commercial maize grains, a survey of 75 maize samples, collected from 11 market centers in the five regions in northern Ghana was identified based on morphological characteristics, sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region, and polymerase chain reaction using species-specific primers. ZEN levels were determined using HPLC. ZEN contamination was recorded in 33.3% of the maize samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.61 to 3.05 µg/kg. Based on VERT1/2 and TEF 1-α sequencing, F. verticillioides was the most prevalent species in the studied samples: 40.35% from the Upper East Region, 28.07% from the North East Region, 19.30% from the Upper West Region, 10.53% from the Savannah Region, and 1.75% for the Northern Region. Other fungal species found were F. equiseti and F. solani. A higher number of the Fusarium isolates were found in white maize (609 isolates from 27 samples) compared to yellow maize (225 isolates from 23 samples).

Heme o Isolation and Analysis Using Heme o Synthase Heterologously Expressed in Escherichia coli.

Heme o is an Fe-porphyrin involved in the majority of aerobic respiration pathways found in all three domains of life. In eukaryotes and most aerobic prokaryotes, heme o functions solely as the precursor for the synthesis of heme a, a necessary cofactor for most heme-copper terminal oxidases. In some prokaryotes, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), heme o can serve as a cofactor for heme-copper oxidases instead of heme a. Given its role as a key substrate or cofactor, purified heme o promises to be a valuable resource for the study of heme-copper oxidase assembly and activity. However, commercially available heme o is sold in limited quantities at a relatively high cost (compared to the prototypical heme b), making the use of heme o purchased from suppliers unfeasible for such studies. In this chapter, we present step-by-step methods both for heme o isolation from E. coli overexpressing heme o synthase and for HPLC analysis of cellular hemes (i.e., heme o and heme b).

Cistanche deserticola polysaccharide- functionalized dendritic fibrous nano-silica -based adjuvant for H9N2 oral vaccine enhance systemic and mucosal immunity in chickens.

Avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 has the ability to infect birds and humans, further causing significant losses to the poultry industry and even posing a great threat to human health. Oral vaccine received particular interest for preventing majority infection due to its ability to elicit both mucosal and systemic immune responses, but their development is limited by the bad gastrointestinal (GI) environment, compact epithelium and mucus barrier, and the lack of effective mucosal adjuvants. Herein, we developed the dendritic fibrous nano-silica (DFNS) grafted with Cistanche deserticola polysaccharide (CDP) nanoparticles (CDP-DFNS) as an adjuvant for H9N2 vaccine. Encouragingly, CDP-DFNS facilitated the proliferation of T and B cells, and further induced the activation of T lymphocytes in vitro. Moreover, CDP-DFNS/H9N2 significantly promoted the antigen-specific antibodies levels in serum and intestinal mucosal of chickens, indicating the good ability to elicit both systemic and mucosal immunity. Additional, CDP-DFNS facilitate the activation of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells both in spleen and intestinal mucosal, and the indexes of immune organs. This study suggested that CDP-DFNS may be a new avenue for development of oral vaccine against pathogens that are transmitted via mucosal route.

Liquid-nitrogen-free CTAB DNA extraction method from silica-dried specimens for next-generation sequencing and assembly.

Next-generation sequencing requires intact and high-quality DNA. However, typical liquid-nitrogen DNA extraction methods are expensive and not practical for field sample collections. Hence, we present a cost-effective method for DNA extraction from silica-dried leaf samples, eliminating the need for liquid nitrogen. Two protocols were evaluated to determine the effectiveness of grinding dried plant samples without liquid nitrogen in comparison to the standard protocol for tissue homogenization and cell lysis. Protocol 1 involved grinding fresh leaf samples with liquid nitrogen, while Protocol 2 entailed incubating dried plant samples at-20 °C for 1 h before grinding in the absence of liquid nitrogen. Both protocols produced comparable DNA yields with an average A260/A280 ratio of 1.78±0.02, suitable for short- and long-read sequencing. Using Protocol 2, we successfully assembled ten plastomes. It also demonstrated versatility as comparable DNA quality was obtained from dried mollusks and actinomycetes, resulting in the successful assembly of two complete mitochondrial genomes. The protocol is advantageous for research workflows involving the collection of samples in the field as a long-term source of genetic material.•Drying: Fresh samples were silica-dried at silica-to-sample ratio of 2:1.•Pre-lysis: Dried samples were frozen at -20 °C for 1 hour before grinding.•Frozen samples were subjected to tissue homogenization followed by the standard CTAB DNA extraction.

A modified CTAB method for the extraction of high-quality RNA from mono-and dicotyledonous plants rich in secondary metabolites.

BACKGROUND: High-quality RNA extraction from woody plants is difficult because of the presence of polysaccharides and polyphenolics that bind or co-precipitate with the RNA. The CTAB (cetyl trimethylammonium bromide) based method is widely used for the isolation of nucleic acids from polysaccharide-rich plants. Despite the widespread use of the CTAB method, it is necessary to adapt it to particular plant species, tissues and organs. Here we described a simple and generalized method for RNA isolation from mature leaf tissues of several economically important woody (17) and herbaceous plants (2) rich in secondary metabolites. High yields were achieved from small amount (up to 50 mg) of plant material. Two main modifications were applied to the basic protocol: an increase in ß-mercaptoethanol concentration (to 10%v/v) and the use of an effective DNase treatment. As opposed to similar studies, we tried to describe a more detailed protocol for isolating RNA, including the exact quantity and concentration of the reagents were used. RESULTS: Our modified CTAB method is proved to be efficient in extracting the total RNA from a broad range of woody and herbaceous species. The RNA yield was ranged from 2.37 to 91.33 µg/µl. The A260:A280 and A260:A230 absorbance ratios were measured from 1.77 to 2.13 and from 1.81 to 2.22. The RIN value (RNA Integrity Number) of the samples fell between 7.1 and 8.1, which indicated that a small degree of RNA degradation occurred during extraction. The presence of a single peak in the melt curve analyses and low standard errors of the Ct values of replicated measurements indicated the specificity of the primers to bind to the cDNA. CONCLUSIONS: Our RNA isolation method, with fine-tuned and detailed instructions, can produce high quality RNA from a small amount of starting plant material that is suitable for use in downstream transcriptional analyses. The use of an increased concentration of the reducing agent ß-mercaptoethanol in the extraction buffer, as well as the application of DNaseI-treatment resulted in a method suitable for a wide range of plants without the need of further optimalization, especially in Rhus typhina (Staghorn sumac), for which molecular-genetic studies have not yet been sufficiently explored.

Assessing the effect of sample storage time on viral detection using a rapid and cost-effective CTAB-based extraction method.

BACKGROUND: Cassava leaf samples degrade quickly during storage and transportation from distant areas. Proper sampling and efficient, low-cost storage methods are critical for obtaining sufficient quality DNA and RNA for plant virus epidemiology and improving disease control understanding. This is useful when samples are collected from remote areas far from a laboratory or in developing countries where money and materials for virus diagnostics are scarce. RESULTS: The effect of sample storage duration on nucleic acid (N.A.) quality on virus detection was investigated in this study. A simple, rapid, and cost-effective CTAB-based approach (M3) for single N.A. extraction was optimized and tested alongside two existing CTAB-based methods (M1 and M2) for N.A. extraction from fresh and herbarium cassava leaves stored for; 1, 8, 26, and 56 months. The amount and quality of DNA and RNA were determined using Nanodrop 2000 c U.V.-vis Spectrophotometer and agarose gel electrophoreses. The sample degradation rate was estimated using a simple mathematical model in Matlab computational software. The results show no significant difference in mean DNA concentration between M1 and M2 but a significant difference between M3 and the other two methods at p < 0.005. The mean DNA concentration extracted using M3 was higher for 1 and 8 months of leave storage. M3 and M2 produced high concentrations at 26 and 56 months of leave storage. Using a developed scale for quality score, M3 and M2 produced high-quality DNA from fresh samples. All methods produced poor-quality DNA and RNA at 8 and 26 months of leave storage and no visual bands at the age of 56 months. Statistically, there was a significant difference in the mean DNA quality between M1 and M2, but there was no significant difference between M3 and the other two methods at p < 0.005. However, Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV) were readily detected by RT-PCR from RNA isolated using M3. The quality of DNA declined per storage time at 0.0493 and 0.0521/month, while RNA was 0.0678 and 0.0744/month. Compared to the existing two methods, modified CTAB extracted enough high-quality N.A. in one-third the time of the existing two methods. CONCLUSION: Our method provides cost-effective, quick, and simple processing of fresh and dry samples, which will quicken and guide the decision on when and what type of sample to process for plant disease management and surveillance actions.

Nanomaterials for sustainable remediation: efficient removal of Rhodamine B and lead using greenly synthesized novel mesoporous ZnO@CTAB nanocomposite.

This study explores the dual applications of a greenly synthesized ZnO@CTAB nanocomposite for the efficient remediation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and lead (Pb). The synthesis method involves a sustainable approach, emphasizing environmentally friendly practices. FT-IR, XRD, FESEM, zeta potential, and particle size analyzer (PSA), BET, and UV-VIS were used to physically characterize the zinc oxide and CTAB nanocomposite (ZnO@CTAB). The size and crystalline index of ZnO@CTAB are 77.941 nm and 63.56% respectively. The Zeta potential of ZnO@CTAB is about - 22.4 mV. The pore diameter of the ZnO@CTAB was 3.216 nm, and its total surface area was 97.42 m2/g. The mechanism of adsorption was investigated through pHZPC measurements. The nanocomposite's adsorption performance was systematically investigated through batch adsorption experiments. At pH 2, adsorbent dose of 0.025 g, and temperature 50 °C, ZnO@CTAB removed the most RhB, while at pH 6, adsorbent dose of 0.11 g, and temperature 60 °C, ZnO@CTAB removed the most Pb. With an adsorption efficiency of 214.59 mg/g and 128.86 mg/g for RhB and Pb, the Langmuir isotherm model outperforms the Freundlich isotherm model in terms of adsorption. The pseudo-2nd-order model with an R2 of 0.99 for both RhB and Pb offers a more convincing explanation of adsorption than the pseudo-1st-order model. The results demonstrated rapid adsorption kinetics and high adsorption capacities for RhB and Pb. Furthermore, there was minimal deterioration and a high reusability of ZnO@CTAB till 4 cycles were observed.

Photocatalytic activity and magnetic properties of Ba2FeMoO6 ferromagnetic double perovskite.

Ba2FeMoO6 samples were prepared using the sol-gel method without and using Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to study their photocatalytic properties. The structural and morphological properties of the samples were characterized systematically. The Rietveld refinement described a cubic structure with space group Fm-3m and a single phase with no detectable impurity for either. FESEM images showed that the sample's morphology changed significantly with the addition of the CTAB. The BET analysis of the sample containing CTAB (BFMOC) showed that the special surface area of the pores increased ten times compared to parent sample and its pore size decreased. The UV-Vis spectrum of the BFMOC sample showed two absorption peaks at 223 nm and 705 nm in the ultraviolet and visible regions, respectively. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) spectra of the samples showed direct band gaps (∼2eV) for both. Photocatalytic and absorbent properties were observed in both samples. The photocatalytic properties of the samples revealed that they effectively degraded the dye triphenylmethane MG. By adding CTAB, the Curie temperature of the BFMO sample increased from 304 K to 310 K, while saturation magnetization decreased from ∼1.43 µB/f.u to ∼0.89 µB/f.u. The low coercive field value indicates that the both samples possess soft magnetic and ferromagnetic properties.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of three DNA extraction methods from soybean, maize, and canola oils and investigation of the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The objective of this study was to develop a DNA-based method for the identification and tracking of edible oils, which is important for health management. Three different DNA extraction methods (CTAB, MBST kit, and manual hexane-based method) were used to obtain high-purity DNA from crude and refined soybean, maize, and canola oils. PCR was then conducted using specific primers to identify the presence of genes related to each oil type and to assess transgenicity. The results showed that DNA was present in crude and refined oils, but in very low amounts. However, using method 3 for DNA extraction provided sufficient quantity and quality of DNA for successful PCR amplification. The study concluded that the main challenge in DNA extraction from oils is the presence of PCR inhibitors, which can be overcome using the manual hexane-based method. Also, the examination of protein presence in the oils using SDS-PAGE did not indicate any protein bands.

Use of the 23S rRNA gene as a target template in the universal loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of genomic DNA from phytoplasmas.

Plant-pathogenic bacteria cause numerous diseases in host plants and can result in serious damage. Timely and accurate diagnostic techniques are, therefore, crucial. While advances in molecular techniques have led to diagnostic systems able to distinguish known plant pathogens at the species or strain level, systems covering larger categories are mostly lacking. In this study, a specific and universal LAMP-based diagnostic system was developed for phytoplasmas, a large group of insect-borne plant-pathogenic bacteria that cause significant agricultural losses worldwide. Targeting the 23S rRNA gene of phytoplasma, the newly designed primer set CaPU23S-4 detected 31 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' tested within 30 min. This primer set also showed high specificity, without false-positive results for other bacteria (including close relatives of phytoplasmas) or healthy plants. The detection sensitivity was ~10,000 times higher than that of PCR methods for phytoplasma detection. A simple, rapid method of DNA extraction, by boiling phytoplasma-infected tissues, was developed as well. When used together with the universal LAMP assay, it enabled the prompt and accurate detection of phytoplasmas from plants and insects. The results demonstrate the potential of the 23S rRNA gene as a versatile target for the LAMP-based universal detection of bacteria at the genus level and provide a novel avenue for exploring this gene as molecular marker for phytoplasma presence detection.IMPORTANCEPhytoplasmas are associated with economically important diseases in crops worldwide, including lethal yellowing of coconut palm, "flavescence dorée" and "bois noir" of grapevine, X-disease in stone fruits, and white leaf and grassy shoot in sugarcane. Numerous LAMP-based diagnostic assays, mostly targeting the 16S rRNA gene, have been reported for phytoplasmas. However, these assays can only detect a limited number of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' species, whereas the genus includes at least 50 of these species. In this study, a universal, specific, and rapid diagnostic system was developed that can detect all provisionally classified phytoplasmas within 1 h by combining the LAMP technique targeting the 23S rRNA gene with a simple method for DNA extraction. This diagnostic system will facilitate the on-site detection of phytoplasmas and may aid in the discovery of new phytoplasma-associated diseases and putative insect vectors, irrespective of the availability of infrastructure and experimental resources.

Improved SARS-CoV-2 RNA recovery in wastewater matrices using a CTAB-based extraction method.

Wastewater-based epidemiology has allowed tracking the magnitude and distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in communities, allowing public health officials to prepare for impending outbreaks. While many factors influence recovery of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater, proper extraction, concentration, and purification of RNA are key steps to ensure accurate detection of viral particles. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of four commonly used RNA extraction methods for detection of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome in sewage samples artificially inoculated with the virus, in order to identify a protocol that improves viral recovery. These methods included CTAB-based, TRIzol-based, and guanidinium thiocyanate (GTC)-based extraction procedures coupled with silica spin column-based purification, and an automated extraction/purification protocol using paramagnetic particles. Following RNA extraction, virus recovery rates were compared using RT-qPCR-based detection. The CTAB-based approach yielded the highest recovery rates and was the only method to consistently demonstrate stable virus recovery percentages regardless of the specific physicochemical characteristics of the samples tested. The TRIzol method proved to be the second most effective, yielding significantly higher recovery rates compared to both the GTC-based and the automated extraction methods. These results suggest that the CTAB-based approach could be a useful tool for the recovery of viral RNA from complex wastewater matrices.

Rhodamine B for Probing the Effects of Modifications in Cetrimonium Bromide Counter-anions by Transition Metals on CTAB/Butanol/n-hexane/water Microemulsion.

Dye solubilization in microemulsion based on Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and its modified forms (counter-anions based upon Zn2+, Cu2+ and Fe3+) is comparatively innovative and not explored in existing literature. Here, surfactant with modified counterions (SMCs) were used to study the effects of metal chlorides (ZnCl2, CuCl2 and FeCl3) modifications on the comparative solubilization of Rhodamine-B (RB) by Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and its modified forms. The solubility of RB in different microemulsions were studied using UV-Visible spectroscopy and phase diagrams of CTAB with modified counter ions CTA+[ZnCl2.Br]- named as CZN-1, CTA+[CuCl2.Br]- named as CCU-1 and CTA+[FeCl3.Br]- named as CFE-1 based upon surfactant with modified counter ions (SMCs). Four different points in microemulsion region of phase diagram were selected with different percentage composition of Smix (surfactant and co-surfactant), oil and RB (taken as water component). The interaction of RB, CCU-1, CFE-1 and CZN-1 within microemulsion environment were studied using Fluorescence spectroscopy. Emission spectra of RB in CCU-1 and CFE-1 based microemulsion confirmed that RB formed complexes with Cu and Fe ions. It was also found that RB was less soluble in CTAB based microemulsion as compared to microemulsions based on SMCs. This novel research study will expose new path for future research work related to microemulsion.

Electrokinetic transport of CTAB induces multiphasic behavior during capillary adsorption and desorption.

Cationic surfactant coatings (e.g., CTAB) are commonly used in CE to control EOF and thereby improve separation efficiencies. However, our understanding of surfactant adsorption and desorption dynamics under EOF conditions is limited. Here, we apply automated zeta potential analysis to study the adsorption and desorption kinetics of CTAB in a capillary under different transport conditions: diameter, length, voltage alternation pattern and frequency, and applied pressure. In contrast to other studies, we observe slower kinetics at distinct capillary wall zeta potential ranges. Within these ranges, which we call "stagnant regimes," the EOF mobility significantly counteracts the electrophoretic (EP) mobility of CTA+ and hinders the net transport. By constructing a numerical model to compare with our experiments and recasting our experimental data in terms of the net CTA+ transport volume normalized by surface area, we reveal that the EP mobility of CTA+ and the capillary surface-area-to-volume ratio dictate the zeta potential range and the duration of the stagnant regime and thereby govern the overall reaction kinetics. Our results indicate that further transport-oriented studies can significantly aid in the understanding and design of electrokinetic systems utilizing CTAB and other charged surfactants.

An Optimized and Cost-Effective RNA Extraction Method for Secondary Metabolite-Enriched Tissues of Norway Spruce (Picea abies).

Since the development of next-generation sequencing techniques and with the growing interest in transcriptomic studies, there is a demand for high-throughput RNA extraction techniques. General RNA extraction protocols are unreliable when it comes to the quality and quantity of isolated RNA obtained from different tissue types of different plant species. Despite Norway spruce (Picea abies) being one of the most significant and commercially valuable tree species in European forests, only limited genetic research is available. In this study, we developed a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol by modifying the original method. We compared this CTAB protocol with other widely used methods for extracting RNA from different tissues (needle, phloem, and root) of Norway spruce, known for its richness in polyphenols, polysaccharides, and secondary metabolites. The modified CTAB method proves to be superior to the kit-based and TRIzol-based methods for extracting RNA from the metabolite-rich tissues of Norway spruce, resulting in high RNA quality and integrity values (RIN~7-9). The modified CTAB RNA extraction method is rapid, cost-effective, and relatively simple in yielding the desired RNA quality from Norway spruce tissues. It is optimal for RNA sequencing and other downstream molecular applications.

Micelle-Assisted Confined Coordination Spaces for Benzimidazole: Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence for Nitrite Determination.

Selective and sensitive detection of nitrite has important medical and biological implications. In the present work, to obtain an enhanced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) determination of nitrite, a novel nano-ECL emitter CoBIM/cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was prepared via a micelle-assisted, energy-saving, and ecofriendly method based on benzimidazole (BIM) and CTAB. Unlike conventional micelle assistance, the deprotonated BIM (BIM-) preferential placement was in the palisade layer of cationic CTAB-based micelles. Enriching the original CTAB micelle with BIM- disrupted its stability and resulted in the formation of considerably smaller BIM/CTAB-based micelles, providing a confined coordination environment for BIM- and Co2+. As a result, the growth of CoBIM/CTAB was also limited. Owing to the unusual nitration reaction between BIM and nitrite, the prepared CoBIM/CTAB was successfully applied as a novel ECL probe for the detection of nitrite with a wide linear range of 1-1500 µM and a low detection limit of 0.67 µM. This work also provides a promising ECL platform for ultrasensitive monitoring of nitrite and it was applied with sausages and pickled vegetables.

A multi-wavelength cross-reactive fluorescent sensor ensemble for fingerprinting flavonoids in serum and urine.

Flavonoids are a kind of natural polyphenols which are closely related to human health, and the identification of flavonoids with similar structures is an important but difficult issue. We herein easily constructed a powerful fluorescent sensor ensemble by using surfactant cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) encapsulating two commercially available fluorescent probes (F1 and F2) with multi-wavelength emission. Fluorescence measurements illustrate the present sensor ensemble exhibits turn-off responses to flavones and flavonols but ratiometric responses to isoflavones, owing to different FRET processes. The heat map and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) results show that this single sensor can effectively distinguish 6 flavonoids belong to three subgroups by collecting the fluorescence variation at four typical wavelengths. Moreover, it can be applied to identify different flavonoids even in biofluids like serum and urine, providing potential practical application.

One-Pot Synthesis and Surfactant Removal from MCM-41 Using Microwave Irradiation.

This research pioneers the application of microwave irradiation as an innovative strategy for one-pot synthesis and surfactant elimination (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-CTAB) from MCM-41, introducing a rapid and efficient methodology. MCM-41 silica is widely utilized in various applications due to its unique textural and structural properties. Nonetheless, the presence of residual surfactants after synthesis poses a challenge to its effective application. MCM-41 synthesis, conducted in a microwave reactor at 60 °C, provided a result within 0.5 to 1 h. Comprehensive analyses of structural, chemical, morphological, and surface characteristics were undertaken, with a focus on the impact of synthesis time on these properties. Surfactant extraction involved the use of ethanol as a solvent at 120 °C for 6 min within the microwave reactor. The acquired particles, coupled with the properties of textural and structural features, affirmed the efficacy of the synthesis process, resulting in the synthesis of MCM-41 within 36 min. This study presents the first instance of one-pot synthesis and surfactant removal from MCM-41 using a microwave reactor. The proposed method not only addresses the surfactant removal challenge, but also substantially accelerates the synthesis process, thereby enhancing the potential for MCM-41's application in diverse fields.